2007 Annual Meadow Park Clean-up/Picnic

On July 5, Alpha Alpha Theta members and officers were joined by members from Alleghany Community College, Community College of Baltimore- Catonsville, Anne Arundel Community College, as well as Maryland State President, Donald Cooke, and Middle States Regional President, Andrew Davis, attended the post fireworks clean-up of Meadow Park. Several family members of chapter members were in attendance as well. There were 17 people in attendance at the event and the park was totally cleaned within two hours. Participants saved the town of Elkton 34 hours of payroll by lending a helping hand. Collected items included a great many items for recycling, as well as someone’s screen door.

This event helped Alpha Alpha Theta achieve the clean communities and recycling components of the International Service Program.

Former Chapter President Voted as New Middle States Regional President

From left to right: Don Cooke (Maryland President), Andy Davis (Regional President), Dr. Dan Houghtaling(Middle States Regional Coordinator), Nicky Singer (New Jersey President), Rich Jiosne (Pennsylvania President).

Chapter President, Steve Snyder, attended the 22nd Regional/90th International Convention in Philadelphia, PA April 2nd - 5th. V.P. of Service, Tonya Dean-Catlett, V.P. of Scholarship, Chris Jackson, Webmaster (and Former Chapter President) Andy Davis, and Member (and S.G.A. President) Zack Rothwell joined Steve and Advisor, Jane Sharrow at the convention.

During the Convention, AAT won several awards at the regional level including Laura Styles for Distinguished Chapter Member, The Scholarship Hallmark, Leadership Hallmark, Five-Star Award, and the Four Leaf Clover Award. Our Advisor, Miss Jane Sharrow, won the Distinguished Chapter Advisor Award at the international level.

Also during the Convention, Andy Davis, added another first for Cecil in the Region when he won the Regional Elections and became the 2008-2009 Middle States Regional President. The Regional Officers Team also consists of: Don Cooke from Anne Arundel won Maryland, Nicky Singer from Raritan Valley won New Jersey, and Rich Jiosne from Northampton won Pennsylvania.

AAT Hosts The Middle States Regional Maryland/Delaware Leadership Conference

Article Release Date: October 22, 2007

AAT hosted the 2007 Middle States Region MD/DE Leadership Conference at Cecil College on Saturday, October 20th.

The conference included presentations from:

• Dr. Dianne Lane, Vice-President of Student Services at Cecil College, presenting on "How To Be A More Effective Leader"
• Toastmasters Shelly Evans and Vaughn Ellerton, presenting on "Effective Leadership Speech Presentations"
• Mike Rippetoe, 2006-2007 MD State Regional President, with a presentation on "Web Communications"
• Dr. Dan and the 2007-2008 Regional Officers Team with a presentation on the 2007-2008 Middle States Regional Project
• Casey Maliszewski, 2007-2008 International Phi Theta Kappa President, with a presentation on "Increasing Chapter Enrollment" and The International Update

After the presentations, there was a game of "Let's Make-A-Deal" for door prizes.

Feedback from the participants was very positive and everyone found something to take back to their chapters with them.

Several Kappans stayed after to attend a free presentation of "Dracula" at Cecil College's Covered Bridge Theater.

AAT Co-hosts Magical Release Party

Prepared by: Andy Davis

For Release: 7/21/2007

Magical Release Party a Success at Cecil College

Cecil (Community) College’s Barnes and Nobles bookstore and the Alpha Alpha Theta (AAT) Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa International Honors Society co-hosted a Magical Release Party for the new and final Harry Potter book The Deathly Hallows on Friday, July 20th from 6 PM until 1 AM in the Technology Building at the North East Campus. Guests were sorted into their houses as they came down the steps through the platform 9 ¾ barrier which was made by the Kids in Kollege Harry Potter class taught by Lauren Anguish. After sorting, they were invited to join in activities that included: coloring pictures of the Hogwarts characters, making Potter glasses using pipe cleaners, having their picture taken with a cutout of Harry from the new book, taking a herbology lesson where they made terrariums using recycled bottles and plant clippings, participate in a trivia challenge held by the potions master, and a Potter character look-a-like contest. All four Harry Potter movies were shown in two locations during the event and there was even an area with “Food for Muggles”.

The idea for co-hosting the part came about when the bookstores manager, Kathy Burris approached AAT Chapter President, Andy Davis and asked him if the chapter would be interested in the event. Mr. Davis took the idea to the chapter officers who all voted in favor to help. The first event of its kind for the campus bookstore, the Magical Release Party was a success, selling 50 books between midnight and 1:15 AM. Miss Burris was very pleased with the success of the event that brought out approximately 100 guests and Cecil faculty and staff. AAT members Andy Davis; Tonya Dean-Catlett, Vice-President of Service; Teresa Malin, Recording Officer; Laura Styles, Prospective Officer; Kenneth Chege, Vice President of Leadership; Amanda Shertz, former Vice-President of Scholarship, and Chris Jackson were joined by AAT alumni Sarah Kraus, former Chapter President; and Arial Woodworth, former Vice-President of Service, as well as by Chapter Advisors Jane Sharrow and Gail Wyant.

Both the bookstore and AAT have been receiving very positive feedback regarding the event. Those who attended the event had an enjoyable evening and were pleased to get their copy of the much anticipated 7th year book during a midnight release. Several customers were even reading the book in groups while sitting in the hall outside of the bookstore while others were still lined up to get their copy.

The bookstore and AAT would like to thank everyone who attended the party and helped to make it the success event that it was.

AAT Donates Tree in Memory of Lady Bird Johnson

For Release: 7/21/2007

Prepared by: Tonya J. Dean-Catlett

For Release: 7/21/2007

Subject: Cecil College's Honor Society Donates Tree in Memory of Lady Bird Johnson

On Monday, July 16th, Cecil College´s Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) International Honors Society chapter, Alpha Alpha Theta (AAT) planted a tree in North East Town Community Park. The members of AAT have named the red maple tree "Lady Bird" in memory of Former First-Lady, Mrs. Lady Bird Johnson, who recently passed away. Members: Tonya J. Dean-Catlett, Vice President of Service; Laura Styles, Jane R. Sharrow, Chapter Advisor, and Tonya's husband, Ross Catlett, held a small dedication ceremony at 9:00 AM at the site where the tree was planted. Tonya gave a short speech about Mrs. Johnson, wife of Former President, Lyndon B. Johnson, her beautification efforts, and other work with "Keep America Beautiful".

Phi Theta Kappa, International Honor Society for the Two Year College, located in Jackson, MS, challenges its members to take meaningful action in a new service project every two years. "Keep America Beautiful" is the PTK International Service Project for 2006-2008, to educate the community regarding the issues of pollution, vandalism, graffiti, recycling in the community, and the beautification of the world we live in.

AAT Attends International Convention in Wheaton, IL

Chapter Peasident, Andy Davis, and Vice-President of Service, Tonya Dean-Catlett, attended the 40th annual International Honors Institute at Wheaton College in Wheaton, IL (just East of Chicago). During this event, Andy and Tonya heard from speakers on various topics of the honor study topic, "Gold, Gods, and Glory: The Global Dynamics of Power", and networked with Phi Theta Kappans from around the world. They shared ideas and got ideas, from others attending, on scholarship projects for the honor study topic, service projects, and learned valuable leadership skills. Andy and Tonya were also able to spend a day in Chicago with their fellow Kappans. During their Chicago Day, Andy met up with a fellow participant of the 2006 International Honors Institute in Newark, DE that he also attended. He introduced his new Kappan friends to her and they six of them shared fellowship over some real Chicago style deep-dish Pizza.
From left to right: Chris West (Greenville, NC), Andy Davis (Charlestown, MD), Keyla Torres (Chicago, IL), Tonya Dean-Catlett (a.k.a. Smurfette) (North East, MD), Erin Tieman (a.k.a. Furby) (Harrisburg, PA), Jayson Quilantan (La Junta, CO)

The International Honors is the capstone of the Phi Theta Kappa experience. Meeting other Kappans and sharing ideas help to build the possibility for chapter success and new friendships that can last a lifetime. It is surely an event to be experienced by all Kappans, at least once.


AAt also attended the Middle States Regional Officers Academy and Honors Institute at Trinity College in Washington D.C. just one week before the International Honors Institute.

Relay-For-Life 2007

AAT members attended the annual Relay-For-Life to help fight cancer. Our team CCCing-A-Cure (Tim Steward: Team Captain) raised $1,385.00 this year for the event, and were 25th out of 38 teams that participated. Team Cruisin' for a Cure was the number 1 team with $12,117.50 raised for the event.

The total amount raised by the end of the event on Saturday morning was announced to be $102,000.00, just $8,000 short of their goal for this year. Donations to the Relay-For-Life are still being taken for this year through August at the American Cancer Society.

AAT will start taking team donations for the 2008 Relay-For-Life team after calsses start up again in September.

Project Graduation Memorial Day Picnic

AAt members visited The Meeting Grounds to deliver the donations from Project Graduation on Memorial Day March 28th. During the visit, member helped with the hamburgers and hot dogs for the cookout and visited with residents.

The donations from Project Graduation since the movie night were 25 food items, 9 cleaning supplies, 16 personal items, 68 books, and 80 other items (including toys).

AAT's Family Movie Night Brings Small Crowd With Generous Hearts

AAT held a Family Movie Night on April 30th to kick-off Project Graduation. The scheduled movies were both Disney films, "The Lion King" and "Miracle", and was open to the public. To make it the Project Graduation kick-off, the price of admission was a donated item to The Meeting Ground homeless shelter for each person attending the event. Though there were only about 25 who attended, they donated more than 60 items including food, cleaning supplies, personal products, books, and toys.

The movies were selected because they were good quality entertainment for the entire family, and fit in with the PTK Honor Study Topic of "Gold, Gods, and Glory: The Global Dynamics of Power". Both films were of Glory, the glory of the rightful king regaining his kingdom, and the glory of hard work and the victory that it can bring.

AAT wishes to thank those who came out and supported Project Graduation with their generous donations.

AAT's 2007 Spring Induction

Spring Inductions were held at the Elkton Station campus on April 20th. During the ceremony, Dr. Stephen Pannill, Cecil Community College President, presented the awards recieved at both the Regional and the International conventions this past year.

Ed Floor was presented with the 2007 Distinguished Chapter President Awards for Regional and for International. Amanda Shertz was presented with the 2007 Regional Distinguished Chapter Officer Award. And Andy Davis was presented with the 2007 Regional Distinguished Chapter President Award.

The 2007-2008 AAT Officers Team was sworn into duty at the induction this semester.

• Andy Davis: Chapter President (re-elected)
• Tonya Dean-Cattlet: V.P. of Service
• Ed Floor: V.P. of Scholarship
• Ken Chege: V.P. of Leadership
• Leanne Palmer: V.P. of Fellowship
• Memory March: Public Relations Officer
• Theresa Malin: Recording Officer

AAT wish to welcome the Spring 2007 Inductees:

• Ashley Matie Adkins
• Christopher Dorian Bannon
• Jessica Lynn Calcut
• Kenneth Chege
• Tonya Dean-Catlett
• Franklin Jefferson Colllins III
• Heather Danielle Doerflein
• Pamela Jane Dolde
• Amber Marie Drapeau
• Alicia Lynn Duvall
• Adriane Marie Ferrazzo
• Steven Wade Fife
• Emily Louise Gillis
• Jason Davis Gregg
• Jordan David Howey
• Jonathan Kyle Hudler
• Teresa Anne Humphrey
• Christopher Dale Jackson
• Amanda Lynn Kuhn
• Philip Michael Lester
• Sarah Emily Mahoney
• Theresa Elizabeth Malin
• Memory Ann March
• Cheryl Lynn McCarter
• Thomas Ray Miller
• Leanne Elyse Palmer
• Misty Dawn Pfeil
• David Richard Rhoades, Jr
• Stephen Wayne Snyder (Honorary Member)
• Laura Marie Styles
• Sanah Nasir Vohra
• Daphney Renee Walker
• Amanda Louise Welk

We congratulate you on your achievements and welcome you to the AAT/PTK Family.

Ed Floor Wins International Distinguished Chapter Member Award

Ed Floor was one of the 25 members nominated on the international level to win the 2007 Distinguished Chapter Member Award at the convention in Nashville, TN this year.

Ed is a nursing student who was accepted into the nursing program at Cecil Community for the Fall 2007 semester. He was recently elected to the 2007-2008 Officers Team as the Vice-President of Scholarship for AAT.

Our chapter is proud of Ed and wishes to extend our congratulations to him on achieving this honor.

NEWSLETTER NOW ONLINE

By now, most of you should have recieved your copy of the new print newsletter. We did not quite have enough to mail to all our members this round. But don't worry. If you did not recieve a copy of the print newsletter, you can get it on our website. At the top of the news page you will find a new link that says "Print Newsletter Available Here." that takes you to the newsletter page. On that page you will find a PDF copy of the newsletter that you can download and print.

There will also soon be a new Documents page for important forms and flyers. This page will include awards documents, officer candidate forms, member information form, and anyother forms that we discover that our members need. Please check this section for information that and forms that you may be looking for.

Long Days & Pleasant Nights,
Andy Davis
Your Chapter President